Fatigue in Gynecological Cancer Patients During and After Anticancer Treatment

Prue, Gillian; Allen, James; Gracey, Jacqueline; Rankin, Jane; Cramp, Fiona (Alice)

Abstract

Context: Research has indicated that individuals with gynecological cancer experience severe fatigue. Objectives: This longitudinal survey aimed to analyze the fatigue experienced over the course of one year by a gynecological cancer population, to determine if the fatigue was more severe than that reported by females without cancer, and to identify variables associated with cancer-related fatigue (CRF). Methods: Data were collected over a 12-month period before, during, and after anticancer treatment. Fatigue was assessed using the Multidimensional Fatigue Symptom Inventory-Short Form. Participants with cancer also completed the Rotterdam Symptom Checklist. Results: Sixty-five cancer patients (mean age = 57.4 years, standard deviation [SD] = 13.9) and 60 control subjects (mean age = 55.4 years, SD = 13.6) participated. Descriptive analysis and repeated measurements modeling indicated that the cancer participants reported worse fatigue than the noncancer individuals before, during, and after anticancer treatment (P < 0.001) and that the level of fatigue in persons with cancer changed with time (P = 0.02). A forward stepwise regression demonstrated that psychological distress level was the only independent predictor of CRF during anticancer treatment (P < 0.00), explaining 44% of the variance in fatigue. After treatment, both psychological distress level (P < 0.00) and physical symptom distress (P = 0.03) were independent predictors of fatigue, accounting for 81% of the variance. Conclusion: Psychological distress level is an important indicator of CRF in gynecological cancer. Interventions focused on the reduction of psychological distress may help alleviate CRF. © 2010 U.S. Cancer Pain Relief Committee.

Citation

Prue, G., Allen, J., Gracey, J., Rankin, J., & Cramp, F. (. (2010). Fatigue in Gynecological Cancer Patients During and After Anticancer Treatment. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 39(2), 197-210. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2009.06.011

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Feb 1, 2010
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 8, 2019
• Journal: Journal of Pain and Symptom Management
• Print ISSN: 0885-3924
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 39
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 197-210
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2009.06.011
• Keywords: Fatigue, neoplasm, gynecological, symptoms, adult
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/981643
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2009.06.011